Hello All , Is it just me or does a lot of LGB look Cartoonish ? And how many scales can be run on G Scale track ? This is all new to me. JOE KENT
Joe,
I would say start reading the Articles here on LSC
and keep asking questions.
Joe, first, welcome. Second, you probably couldn’t have picked more of a “hot button” issue for some guys for your first post.
A LOT depends upon WHICH LGB engine you are talking about. Some of the Toytrain line DO look rather cartoonish, but OTOH I don’t think I’ve EVER seen an LGB engine that didn’t run flawlessly (unless it had been abused) and give long service with reasonable care. The nominal scale is 1:22.5, some of the scale nazis will say they used a rubber ruler even for that, but LGB never claimed to make anything but well engineered toy trains.
As for part two of your question… 7/8inch scale, 1:20.3scale, 1:22.5scale, 1/24scale, 1/29scale, and 1/32scale and a couple others all have adherents running trains on 45mm track. Some even run what looks good together with no regard to scale, and/or (like me) run “cartoonish” toy trains just for the pure enjoyment of it
Mostly we all get along just fine, with a bit of good humored ribbing. Sometimes (rarely thank God) it degenerates into insults and people’s feelings get hurt.
My philosophy is it’s YOUR railroad, only YOU have to be happy. My personal preference is good running with low maintenance over scale fidelity but tempermental… YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).
Welcome, Joe.
Check out the Wiki for some of your answers: http://www.lsceverything.com/index.php?title=Main_Page
JOE KENT said:Hi Joe,
Hello All , Is it just me or does a lot of LGB look Cartoonish ? And how many scales can be run on G Scale track ? This is all new to me. JOE KENT
LGB goes from Cartoonish to “almost to scale”. Picking what fits is up to the buyer. 
How many scales on 45mm track? Too many, that’s where a large part of the confusion stems from!
Is Bachmann any closer to 1/22.5 scale ?
JOE KENT said:
Is Bachmann any closer to 1/22.5 scale ?
The Big Hauler 10 wheeler loco, Jackson & Sharpe coaches, and the basic Big Hauler freight cars are pretty close to 1:22.5. However, MOST of the later B’Mann locos are 1:20.3 but with a bit of bashing and a few changed detail parts can work very well in 1:22.5. The only “problem” with 1:22.5 is there weren’t very many 42" (aka “cape”) gauge or metre gauge trains in the US, so the scale isn’t considered “proper” by some people… BUT since Lehmann had such a huge following 15 or so years ago a LOT of items on the market was made to at least LOOK okay with stuff in this scale. Curiously, I’ve found most buildings vehicles and miscellaneous detail parts seem to 1:24… probably because it’s easy to do the scale conversions, and/or dollhouse and architects use this scale regularly so there is a larger market for it… Oddly though, agricultural stuff like tractor models are generally only widely available in 1:16 or 1:32…go figure. Best advise I can give to a new guy is to look around at what’s available, and that interests you then choose a nominal scale based upon that and buy what “works” reasonably well with each other, rather than just buying a hodgepodge of mixed stuff that doesn’t look so good together just because it was in stock and affordable. (And don’t be afraid to sell off your occasional white elephant, even at a small loss) Notice i said what “works” rather than the “same scale”… Jack Barton posted this vintage pic about 2 weeks ago. Most people would say the consist looked “funny” if it was on your pike, even though the cars ARE the same (in this case 1:1) scale…
(http://k43.pbase.com/u33/deadelvis/large/21306302.gulch.jpg)
JOE KENT said:1:13.7, 1:16, 1:19, 1:20.3, 1:22.5, 1:24, 1:29, and 1:32. I think that's all of them (not counting mysterious in between scales). Confused enough yet?
And how many scales can be run on G Scale track ?
-Brian
Joe,
I certainly didn’t mean to not welcome you and I’ll do that now, but your question, and now questions, are ones that we all have asked. They do cause a lot of conversation. I hope you will take a little while to listen to my advice to read advice on this site and others. You’ve got a lot of fun in front of you.
If my LGB Uintah and Sumpter Mallets look cartoonish, I’ll eat them for dinner tonight, AW, batteries and all! 
LGB taste like chicken… Wonder how many calories in a LGB Train ???
Joe welcome! If you are a ‘rivet counter’ you’ll fit right in with bunch! If you are here to run trains then you are in good counpany, you see I have LGB, Bachmann, and whaerever plus what I build myself with the 1 to 20.3 scale card ruler! Therefore are some differences in car size, height, and length but so what! Like JOhn I’ll enjoy my Uintah and rebuilt s
tump Douger mallets until I can not see them any more! By the way Bachmann larger stuff is call Spectrum and is BIG so if you go that way make sure to a careful with clearances on bridges and tunnels! Can cause a ‘minnor’ problem!
Paul
Thanks Paul , Let me explane a little about myself… When I set up a O27 Train a lot of people use 1/43 cars and trucks on their layouts and to me they were just too big…I was always looking for 1/48 cars and trucks … I Think 1/24 cars might work OK with 1/22.5 scale But really not too sure yet…I am still waiting to get my Bachmann set that I won on E-bay… So I have not even set up a track yet… I Wonder if anybody has ever took a G scale NEW BRIGHT Loco and put a real motor in it ( LGB ) I have a few New Bright Locos That I just have on display and never ran on the plastic track.
Can anybody tell me what the mininum spacing between tracks so trains do not hit passing each other.
Joe,
Whether you are building a 1:29 empire or a 1:20.3 empire, I would build for the clearances of the larger scale, because you may change your mind on equipment or have friends come over that have larger equipment.
I use 8 inches, center to center.
That’s good advice Joe. Build everything including clearances for the largest scale you might ever run. Some build 7/8 scale which is even larger than 1:20.3. In 7/8 I think the 45mm track represents 2 ft. gauge. For some, myself included, that is just too much clearance. Once I started paying attention I built for 1:20.3 clearances. Some of my earlier construction is tight…
Jon Radder said:
Once I started paying attention I built for 1:20.3 clearances. Some of my earlier construction is tight…
That’s the engine I use for all clearances. Great use of $60.00 and it works. If this fits around the curved rail in the tunnel, everything else passes with no problem.